Kolkata: A day after showing defiance against ICC, BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya on Friday struck a conciliatory note saying he would, "amicably sort out" the controversy with the world governing body to avoid it snowballing into a major crisis, but reiterated that the ongoing third Test between India and South Africa was "official"."There is an unnecessary controversy at the moment. Let the dust settle down. We are quite hopeful that the matter would be sorted out amicably in a process of deliberation amongst ICC and its member countries," Dalmiya told newsmen in Kolkata.Dalmiya expressed confidence that the issue would be settled at the ICC executive Board Meeting in Colombo in mid-march. To a query whether he had established contact with ICC after Thursday's dramatic developments, Dalmiya said that he was in constant touch with member countries and, "Within a day of two we will be writing to ICC and we will be able to find out a solution which would be acceptable to all."But the BCCI chief made it clear that he was not going to budge from his stand that the ongoing third Test match in Johannesburg was "official for all practical purposes". Dalmiya rejected ICC's stand of de-recognising the third Test as, "unofficial" and said, "I have spoken to Percy Sonn and Gerald Majola, the president and chief executive respectively of UCBSA and both have confirmed that the match in progress is being considered by the UCBSA as an official Test."But when reminded of the statement of ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed on Thursday on the status of the match, he said, "The decision on the status will be taken by the executive board and not by any individual person."When asked what would be BCCI's response if ICC took action against it for defying its authority, Dalmiya said, "I don't want to get into any hypothetical debate. We have to defuse the situation as fast as possible.""We did not want to fight (against ICC) and the decision was taken in view of the public sentiments and to continue with the game," Dalmiya said. When asked whether there was apprehension from any particular individual within ICC against the Indian Board, Dalmiya replied, "I don't think so." "BCCI will make all endeavour to ensure that cricket does not suffer. It is not the time to settle personal issues. It will be desirable for all concerned to deal with issues involving the game in the right perspective," he said.The BCCI president, who in a defiant mood on Thursday announced the removal of ICC appointed match referee Mike Denness for the third Test, said, "You see ICC is a parent body, we have respected ICC and we are respecting ICC."Dalmiya confirmed that BCCI had received a letter from ICC apparently conveying its decision on the status of the Johannesburg Test, but refused to divulge its contents.He said the BCCI would respond to it within a couple of days. He emphasised that there were certain parameters for a match to be official or unofficial and, "as far as BCCI and UCBSA are concerned, all parameters of a Test match have been fulfilled." PTI

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